Patent GB-315132-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in interchangeable filler feed for cigar machines
IPC: A24C1/02
Filed: 1928-08-27
Abstract: 315,132. Marks, Sir G. C., (International Cigar Machinery Co.). Aug. 27, 1928. Cigar-making machines.-A machine frame, supporting a feed belt and associated operating mechanism, is provided with means for selectively supporting and driving a long filler feeding mechanism or a short filler feeding mechanism, so that the machine may be supplied either with long filler or short filler. The permanent parts of the machine are shown in heavy lines in the drawings. The feed belt 5 is driven by a drum 6 on a shaft 7 and passes over pulleys 8, 9, 10 and a plate 30. The tobacco on the belt 5 passes under large star wheels 11, suspended from an adjustable bracket 12 pivoted on a shaft 13, and driven from the shaft 13 through chain gearing 15. The tobacco then passes under small star wheels 18 to a charge cutter and a rolling table (not shown). Side frames 19, 20 of the machine are mounted by means of cross beams 23 on pedestals 21, 22, and the drum shaft 7 of the feed belt is driven by a sprocket chain 27 from a shaft 24 driven from a main shaft by a chain 26. The shaft 24 is journaled in a removable bracket 82. The shafts of the star wheels 11, 18 are driven from the shaft 7 through chain gearing 41, toothed gearing 37, 38, and chain gearing 14. The long filler feeding mechanism, shown in thin lines in Figs. 1 and 2, is similar to that described in Specification 302,611 and is disposed transversely of the feed belt 5 and carried by a bed 44, which is detachably bolted to the upper surface of the side frame 19 and is detachably secured to the pedestal 22 by the bracket 82. A bracket 45 attached to the side of the bed 44 supports a feed table, 46 and the outer ends of feed belts 47, 48, 49 forming a channel in which long filler tobacco is placed by hand. The tobacco passes through a funnel 54, under a levelling roller 55 carried by an arm 56 pivoted on a bracket 57, and under a compressor 58 to the corrugated cutter 59 for cutting bunch lengths. These are fed sideways on to the feed belt 5 by a swinging arm 60 controlled by a counterweight 61 on an arm 63, which is mounted on a shaft 64 supported by the brackets 57, 65 and carries an arm 66 connected by a rod 67 to control fingers 68 - - 70. The cross feed is driven from a ratchet 71 operated by a pawl pivoted on a lever 74 actuated by a connecting- rod 75 and a crank 76 detachably secured on the shaft 24. which is also arranged to drive through chain gear 78 a cam shaft 81 actuating arms on the shaft 64. The short filler feeding mechanism, shown in thin lines in Fig. 4, is arranged longitudinally with respect to the belt 5 and is similar to that described in Specification 273,783. It comprises a swinging hopper 83 carried by brackets 84 on a shaft 85, which is supported in brackets 86 detachably secured to bearing surfaces on the side frames. 19, 20. The hopper is swung up and down by an adjustable rod 88 connecting a lever 89 on the shaft 85 to a crank 90 on a shaft 91 removably mounted in bearings 91<a> on the frame members 19, 20. The shaft 91 is driven through chain gearing 94, 99 from the shafts 24, 95, which are now supported by removable brackets 100, 96. Walls 102, arranged at the sides of the belt 5 to form a feed channel, are supported by the shaft 85 and rest at their forward ends on the plate 30, one of the walls being adjustable. Rakers 103 are mounted on a shaft 104, which is journaled in blocks adjustable in brackets 106 on the side walls 102, and is driven by chain gearing 109 from the shaft 39. An adjustable compact,- ing roller 110 supported by the side walls is driven from the shaft 13 by chain gearing 113.